All this happened, Moore or less: Jay Cutler’s concussion means that Miami backup Matt Moore will be helming the Dolphins offense. While Moore is not by any means a franchise option, he has put up capable statistics against New England in recent years, although the Patriots have won each time. The secondary will have to prepare for a more familiar, less interception-friendly offense centered around the receiving trio of Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker. While the defense has cut down on points allowed, they are still giving up plenty of yards, so Sunday’s match-up could be a bit of a test for them.

Though my sprint is more a Waddle: As pointed out by PatsPulpit’s Rich Hill, Patriots backup right tackle LaAdrian Waddle has had to protect Tom Brady from top-tier pass rushers J.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, Von Miller, and Khalil Mack thus far through the 2017 season, and now gets to face Cameron Wake, still a dominant defensive end in his ninth season. Waddle has often received help on his snaps but has excellently held his own and kept Brady upright. He and the rest of the offensive line will have to continue to put forth strong performances to keep the offense flowing.

Contain excitement: Part of the reasoning for the roster swap of Eric Lee for Cassius Marsh was Marsh’s repeated inability to contain running backs. The Patriots’ defense, lacking strong pass rush, relies on solid run containment from their defensive ends to force opposing offenses to become one-dimensional, and the 260-pound Lee will hopefully be able to remedy some of the lack of containment which has been seen this season. Of course, the first-week Patriot Lee may not be active at all, in which case it may be up to linebackers (Kyle Van Noy, Trevor Reilly) and defensive tackles (Adam Butler) playing on the edge to keep any Miami running attack from developing.

Time for the BSJ TUMS-O-METER prediction for this week’s game. Considerations: 1) The Pats will be without two starting offensive linemen (Marcus Cannon and David Andrews) while Chris Hogan remains out. 2) Teams that are 8-2 (PIT) or 7-3 (JAX) both have winnable games as do TEN and KC (both 6-4), thus there is a bit of pressure to stay ahead of the curve for playoff positioning. 3) On the other hand, MIA is a hot mess right now, though with Moore starting at QB they could be a little bit more of a challenge. Nonetheless, this should be only a 1 bottle TUMS game, 1 1/2 at best.

To the point below about BB’s record in the first two years with the Pats: don’t forget that Kraft moved Heaven and Earth to get BB here. Traded a 1st round pick for crying out loud. And Kraft knew him from when he was an assistant under Parcells. Coaches are rarely if ever brought in under these circumstances, so it makes sense that he had far more rope than other guys.

OK, I’m happy for Jimmy, but scared for him, too. His value will likely never be higher than it is right now. If he gets hurt, it will cost him millions upon millions. Risky for both the Niners and Jimmy. I hope it works out for both.

I have little doubt Jimmy will succeed. Bill loved him. I truly believe Shanahan is a brilliant offensive coach. I think they’ll be successful. Maybe not right away but just in case, I’ve put in a waiver claim for Marquise Goodwin.

Justin Tuck
β
@JustinTuck
Iβm honestly at a lost for words. As a person that has seen Eli the QB but also Eli the Man, Iβm truly pissed about what has taking place today. This decision is one of the STUPIDEST Iβve seen in my time being asap with pro sports

BB was 5-11 his first year here . He was 5-5 in his 2nd here after 10 games. What if the next 6 games didn’t go the way that we all know that they did. What if he lost those last 6 games. Should the Patriots have fired him?

I know that this is a big what if but to me successful franchises don’t change their coaches every 2 years.

That is a “what if” in a world we’ll never have to know. I think 3 years should generally be given to give a guy time to bring in his players and have them mature, but if you are the owner and feel that the organization is headed in the wrong direction,the locker room has been lost, former players are coming out and speaking angry words about the organization (Twitter feed—->), you have do something about it and make a change.

Former players shouldn’t run the organization. Strong smart owners should. The Giants owner needs to make the right decision here. The Giants had a playoff team last year and lost their best player this year.

And, if they feel strongly about him (as they should since they are the ones that hired him), they should stay the course. I just think, from the outside, it looks like he’s lost that team and that ain’t going to change in another year.

He’ll be 37 next year. Might be too late to start over with a new franchise unless he takes the role of journeyman backup QB. Is there a situation that he could take over like Peyton did with Denver and be instant contenders?

In theory, you’re right DP, but I have a bad feeling about the direction of the organization. It’s like when Pete Carrol was here and he always had a winning record but every year they got worse and worse.

Wow, they are benching him for Geno Smith!? What happened to that organization? I actually feel bad for Eli. He was never the greatest QB but always around top 10-15 when he had a good coach. McAdoo is obviously the problem. If they can’t see that, they will be languishing in obscurity in the NFC East for years to come.

Joel Corry
@corryjoel
Jags can free up $19.053M of salary cap space in 2018 by cutting Blake Bortles before his option year, which is guaranteed for injury, becomes fully guaranteed on the 1st day of the 2018 league year (March 14).

Jints bench Eli for Geno (giggling) Smith. His 210 game starting streak will be over on Sunday when the Gmen play the Raiders. The interesting part will be if New York releases him at the end of the season. His future contract details: 2018: $10.5 million (+ $5 million roster bonus), 2019: $11.5 million (+ $5 million roster bonus), 2020: Free Agent.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Texans are releasing veteran outside linebacker Lamarr Houston.
Acquired earlier this season after Whitney Mercilus was lost for the season (when it made sense to add veteran parts), Houston had a sack in five games, and returned a fumble for a touchdown against the Colts.

Through the first four weeks, the Buffalo Bills defense allowed a mere 54 points, the best rate in the league. From week 5 onward, the Bills defense has allowed 192 points (the Bills offense gave up 14 to the Chargers) and their 27.4 points allowed per game is the worst in the NFL.

Since week 5, no defense has been better at keeping points off the board than the New England Patriots. The Patriots as a team have given up 92 points over their past seven games, but 7 of those points are the result of an errant snap by back-up center Ted Karras. The defense was on the field for just 85 of those points, a mere 12.1 points allowed per game. The Jacksonville Jaguars defense allowed 87 points over that span (they gave up an additional 7 points to a kick return against the Los Angeles Rams), while the Philadelphia Eagles… Read more »

The Patriots also brought OG Jason King back to the practice squad according to multiple reports, which means that New England must have promoted another player to create that vacancy. King spent the summer with the Patriots and spent two weeks on the Ravens practice squad.

Grigsby initially signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2016, spending half of his rookie season on their practice squad and finishing the year on their active roster and playing 130 special teams snaps in just 6 games. He was released during final cuts in 2017 and landed on the Ravens practice squad. He plays all the linebacker positions, but is likely expected to have a role on special teams.

According to multiple reports, the Patriots added former Ravens linebacker Nicholas Grigsby to the active roster, signing him away from Baltimoreβs practice squad. The 6β0, 230 pound Grigsby was undrafted out of Pittsburgh, but runs an incredible 4.51s 40 yard dash and 6.90s three cone, along with leaping an impressive 10β4 in the broad jump.